Method of and machine for spacing tiles and pasting same to paper



B. L. BENSON. METHOD OF AND M'ACHlNlE FOR SPA'GING TILES AND PASTING SAME T0 PAPER. APPLICATION FILED mun, 1921.

1,404,567. Patented Jan. 24, 1922;

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' B. l. BENSON.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SPACING TILES AND PAS-TING- SAME TO PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27,1921.

1,404,567, Patented Jan. 24, 1922. I

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U I} flvvcwrw? KM F555. 50 44 44 M47 I 0 6) a T r I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRADLEY L. BENSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SPACING TILES AND PASTING SAME T0 PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Application filed January 27, 1921. Serial No. 440,322.

residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of Galifornia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofand Machines for Spacing Tiles and Pasting Same to Paper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved method of and machine for spacing tiles for pasting same to paper. v

Attention is called to my co-pending application Serial Number 383,978, filed May 24th, 1920.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a positive means for filling a rectangular space with a given number of tiles in spaced relation to each other and pasting same to a sheet, irrespective of any variation in size of the individualtiles.

In the co-pending application before mentioned I depended on the curvature of a surface to space the tiles in one direction. In practice I find that tiles coming from the kilns vary in size, due tothe difference in kiln temperatures and other causes, and that when spaced on a curved surface, the length of. the various courses are at variance. Obviously this would seriously impede the tile setter in attempting to match the edge of the form .considered to be the best, but it is' understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it maybe embodied in other forms and it is also to be understood that in and by claims following the description it isdesired to cover the invention in whatever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings,.Fig. 1 is a vertical central sect-ion of my machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a wheel. partly in section, illustrating the method of spacing.

d is a fragmentary plan view of the periphery of a spacing wheeladaptedfor use with square tile.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a spacing wheel for what is termed broken joint squares in which the courses are in staggered relation to each other.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the periphery of a spacing wheel arranged for hexagonal tile.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail in perspective illustrating a modification of the feed device for the spacing wheel made necessary by the hexagonal shape of tile.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing how my method may be carried out by using pasting boards instead of the continuous spacing wheel.

Fig. bar.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates one of the side sills of the frame of my machine.

Similar side members 2 are directly above and connected thereto by corner pieces 3 and by vertical standards 4 which extend above the member 2 and are provided with a series of notches 6 to engage a bar 7.

The members 1 and 2 are also connected by side members 8, but one of which is shown here.

The frame work is held together at suitable intervals by cross members such as 5 and 10.

Journalled in the side members 8 is an axle 9 on which is rotatably mounted on a spacing wheel 11 which maybe manually rotated or driven by suitable power. The wheel 11 is provided with a number of upstanding spacers 12 which extend radially therefrom at regular intervals on the periphery.

These spacers 12 are preferably of a height less than that of the tile to be spaced.

At 13, 1%, Figs. 1 and 2, I show flat plates secured at one end to the side members 2 by screws 16. The opposite ends of members 13 and 14: are turned back to form bearings in the members 13 and 14 andbear against the side members 2. I

The angle of inclination of the chut 19 may be adjusted by moving rod 7 to another of the notches 6. r

The chute 19 is in secant relation to the periphery of the wheel 11. The reason for this is shown more clearly in Fig. 3. As the tiles in the courses of chute 19. gravitate to the bottom the leading tile encounters the periphery of wheel 11 and the weight of those behind force it forward until it encounters a spacer 12. This action is repeated for each tile, but it will be noted in Fig. 3 that the tile marked A, while still being pressed by the tile B and the combined weight'of those in the chute 19,

has been forced to a fiat position on the periphery of the wheel and thus an angle is formed between tile A and tile B suflicient to allow the next advancing spacer 12'to enter between said tiles as the wheel 11 is rotated. By this means the tiles successively advance from the chute 19 and are crowded against the spacers 12 and assume positions shown at G, D and E.

1 The distance between the spacers 12 is slightly greater than the length of the tiles and any inequality of size is accommodated .thereby.

The tiles are carried around the wheel 11 v to a point where gravity might disturb contact between th pasted sheet 26 and them and here an endless flexibl belt 21 is provided against a portion'of the periphery of'the wheel during rotation.

The belt 21 passes around rollers 22, 23

and 24. I g A pasted sheet 26 is fed in by any suitable feed or gripper device and applied to the tiles. The band 21 being elastic insures the tiles. 7

As the wheel 11 rotates the sheet encounters a plate 27 and the weight of the tile c'ausesthe sheet to fall away from the wheel and onto theplate 27.

The elastic belt and delivery means are,

fully described and claimed in another application before mentioned. 50:

In order toprevent any clogging'orrtendency on the part of the tile to climb out of the chute 19 at the delivery end I provide an idler wheel 26 for each course of tile in said chute.

At 27 and 28 I show bearing blocks securedto the sides of the chute 19 by-screws 29.

Extending across the chute 19 and above same are two rods 31 and 32 secured at the ends to the bearing blocks 27, 28.

The purpose of these rods is best shown in Fig. 3. Each of the idler wheels 26 must be free to ris and fall independently of the others as any interruption in one course tion.

of moving tiles will not affect the other courses. 7

Each of the idlers 26 is rotatably mounted on an L shaped wire 33 which is coiled at th end remote from the idler to form a bearing on the rod 31. The wires 33 rest normally on the rod 32 and are yieldably held in that position by springs 35 coiled about the rod 32 and hearing at each end against the wires 33 at opposite sides of the rod 32. This arrangement allows any of the idler wheels 26 to rise slightly to accommodate thicker or higher tiles and the freely rotating idlers serve to hold the courses 7 down at the point'where the plan of travel is broken with the minimum amount of friction. 7

Should a tile fail to pocket as described the flow can be continued and interruption avoided by using drag or follower bar shown at 34 rigidly secured to arms 36 and 37 which are pivotally connected to the rod 17.

This bar is shown in Fig. 9 in cross sec- It is cut away at 38 to permit entrance under the idlers 26 and is rounded at the under edge as shown at 39 to offer a yielding resistance to any incoming'tile which is outcof place. The weight of the bar causes the tile in the advancing course to stop until the next advancing spacer 12 reaches the advance edge ofthe misplaced tile when the same will drop into place and the operation again becomes normal.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the spacers 12 extending transversely'across the periphcry of the wheel 11. g

If desired cross spacers 41, Fig. 4 may be used. V I

' In Fig. 5 I show these "cross spacers 41 staggered to paste tile in broken joints.

In Fig. 6 I show spacers 42 arranged on the periphery of the .wheel 11 for hexagon tiles. 1" find that these may be fed and pasted in the mannerherein described for square tiles if the chute 19 is modified.

It will be seenthat the courses around the periphery of the wheel 11 is zigzag as indicated at the arrows'in Fig. 6. As each This has the efiect of laying alternate courses on said, wheel and later filling in between said courses to'form a solid sheet.

Obviously my invention might be employed as shown in Fig. 8, in which the chutes 19 empty into flat boards 44 which are conducted beneath the delivery end of said chutes on an endless belt 46 around rollers 47 and 48.

I prefer to use the rotary device for speed and efficiency.

I claim:

1. The method of spacing tiles consisting of conducting said tiles in processions through chutes inclined toward and adapted to empty into a member. having raised spacers thereon adapted to form pockets of greater area than that of each of said tiles in such a manner that the weight of the processions in said chutes will force all of said tiles into said pockets and against the sides of the pockets that are remote from said chutes.

An apparatus for spacing tiles for pasting comprising a series of inclined chutes, a member adapted to be moved past the discharge end of said chutes and provided with pockets each of greater area than that of each of said tiles, the said pockets being arranged to register with and be fed by said chutes during movement.

3. An apparatus for spacing tiles for pasting comprising a frame, a spacing wheel revolubly mounted in said frame and provided with raised spacers on the periphery thereof, a plurality of chutes adapted to convey tiles in courses and discharge same on the periphery of the wheel at an angle sec-ant to said periphery.

l. An apparatus for placing a given number of tiles in a given area in spaced relation to each other, comprising a plurality of chutes adapted to convey loose tiles therethrough by gravity, a member provided with raised spacers adapted to be moved under the discharge end of said chutes and withdraw the tiles therefrom individually in such a manner that the tiles will be successively forced against said raised spacers by the weight of the advancing tiles in said chute.

5. A machine for spacing tiles for pasting comprising a movable member provided wtih upstanding spacers thereon, inclined chutes adapted to discharge tiles in courses onto said movable member at an angle thereto, means near the angle of intersection of the said chute with the said movable member for maintaining an even flow of courses of tile from said chute to said movable member.

6. A machine for spacing tiles for pasting comprising a movable member provided with upstanding spacers thereon, inclined chutes adapted to discharge tiles in courses onto said movable member at an angle thereto, means near the angle of intersection of said chute with the said movable member for maintainingan even flow of courses of tile from said chute to said movable member, said means comprising an idler wheel for each of said courses yieldably and rotatably mounted above said tile adjacent the delivery end of said chute.

7. The method of spacing tiles for pasting which consists in withdrawing the said tiles successively from inclined chutes to a spacing member arranged at an intersecting angle which will spread the tiles apart to successively admit spacing elements.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my si nature.

BRADLDJ Y L. BEi SUN. 

